Anticipation is building for the 2024 NFL season as teams are amidst OTAs. The Cleveland Browns are entering the 2024 season after going 11-6, making the playoffs, and unfortunately getting bounced in the first round, despite the season being riddled with injuries to multiple key players on offense, defense, and special teams. Expectations are at an all-time high for the Browns, with the return of said key players like Nick Chubb and Deshaun Watson set, the team, media, and fans truly expect the most out of this team. With this hype and anticipation, three games on the Browns’ schedule this season stick out as games that are my most anticipated for the year, which I will break down today.

WEEK 1: DALLAS COWBOYS

The Cowboys game is anticipated for multiple reasons, however, the main reason is the fact that it is the season opener for the Browns’ 2024 season. The Cleveland Browns have had a history of losing the first game of the season until as of late, and building on the streak of starting 1-0 is without a doubt important for this team to set the pace for this season. Other reasons for my excitement about this game are the fact that it will be Tom Brady’s broadcast debut, as well as the first “America’s Game of the Week” for the Fox network. Being America’s Game of the Week means all eyes will be on the Browns right away, and I for one am looking forward to seeing how the team will respond to this pressure.

WEEK 14: AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

My next pick takes us towards the end of the NFL regular season. The Browns have done a lot to change the narrative around the team in recent years, but one question mark remains for me: can the Browns beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh? I know the Browns defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh during the playoffs in 2021, but the Browns have still struggled in Pittsburgh during the regular season. I, for one, want to see this Browns team shake another stigma off of themselves this season, putting all past notions from the 2000s and 2010s to rest and moving into what is the new era of the Cleveland Browns following the extensions of Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski.

WEEK 15: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

This game has been circled on the schedule for me for years. Following the Browns’ win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs during 2021, the Browns came within inches of beating the Chiefs and going to their first AFC Championship game since 1989. The Browns played the Chiefs to open the 2021 season, which the Browns lost, and we have yet to see the two teams play each other since then in the regular season. The saying, “to be the best you have to beat the best,” rings very true for this game. If the Browns want to be the team that they think they can be, they need to beat the Kansas City Chiefs at home, in downtown Cleveland on December 16th, revenging the playoff loss from years back and staking their claim as a top AFC team.